Variety Hour for Aug 7th

[ferocious j]

But if a child came up to you and said "Hello, I made this for you.  I hope you find it fun," and hands you a jar of their own feces, must you find it fun because they made it?

Obviously not.  I never said the mere act of creating something automatically validates it.  I find Achewood fun because it's good, not solely because of its status as a created work.

Wouldn't you feel obligated to let him know what keeps you away from the site and possibly buying merchandise?  Or must everything be rainbows and pony rides as his livelihood goes under?

This argument is also ridiculous.  Onstad doesn't even read this board.

Look; you can like what you like and hate what you hate.  I simply fail to see the usefulness in constantly bitching about scheduling or pointing out things that you think sucked.  Congratulations: You're an asshole.

[edit: That came this close to being a Wraithstyle post.]

[The Wonderous Me]

So, by your logic if I post my opinion of onstad's work in a free, artistic form that you cannot dislike it or complain about it as it's free and I did not ask for your input??  hmm.. now to make this artistic roses aren't blueviolets are violet.

[StingRay Fred]

So if my "bitching" makes me an asshole, then you're bitching about my bitching makes you a super-asshole or are you an asshole supreme?
I never said it was this board specifically.  I was merely mentioning that the no arena for feedback prevents him from knowing how everyone feels.
This, in turn, doesn't allow him to know why everyone is dis-satisfied with the work he is currently putting out.
If you find everything about Achewood good, then that is your perogative.
I personally do not even go to Achewood.com on Tuesday or Thursday.  I find out about those pieces thanks to this site.

[jay-ell]

It's been said that I am in the business of crushing dissent.  Well, I'm not.  Dissent is good, healthy, and vital to maintaining an active, interesting, and thought-provoking message board.  Unfortunately, in this instance, some people are getting upset, and I don't like that.  I don't like that at all.  

The long and short of it is, some people are going to post what they like and dislike about Achewood and Onstad on this board.  And that's OK.  And other people are going to overanalyze the strips for their literary symbolism.  And that's OK too.  And a whole other subset of people are going to hate everything about the first two subsets, and that's fine.  But when subsets of people stop getting along, that's when I start locking threads.  

Whether you think we should take what we can get from Onstad and appreciate it for what it is, or that since we provide him with his livelihood (by purchasing his stuff), we can hold him responsible for lackluster performance, please do us all a favor and respect the opinions of the people who disagree with you.  We are not here to argue the merits of commercial art vs. art for art's sake.  Nor are we here to define what "art" is.  Take your philosophy 101 classes elsewhere -- like to the "Thoughts" forum on this very board.  These forums are here to discuss Achewood, the comic strip, period.  As a general rule, expect to see topics closed when two people begin arguing something that simply cannot ever be brought to a mutually acceptable resolution.  

I don't want to close this topic.  I'm not going to close this topic at this time.  But I will if the bickering continues.  Please prove to me that this is something that can be discussed coolly and civilly.  

Then shake hands and say, "Good game."

[The Wonderous Me]

I like the fact that we all like different things about Achewood!! And life/the world even. I'm glad I'm not an ass! I think therefore I am!( to quote Rene' Descartes) and with a little logic thrown in.. I think I am not an ass, therefore I am not an ass. I like how that works. Oh yeah, and I like the idea of the variety hour, even if it's still not proving funny to me.  I write on my own behalf and only express my own oppions, which are infinately important. (to me anyhow, and I know how big infinity is!!)

[StingRay Fred]

I don't care what other's opinions are, but if someone labels me an asshole for having an opinion different than theirs I will retaliate in kind.  I can stoop with the best of them when the need arises.
I've been reading Achewood for a long time, almost since the beginning.  I read the forums at Dumbrella but never posted because I never felt comfortable doing so - quite frankly for the very reason that can be seen 6 posts up.
If this is how things will be here, then so long and thanks for nothing.  I don't have to come here, I just enjoyed the company even if I only ever stood against the back wall listening to what others had to say.

[jough]

Stingray Fred, please don't take one opinion as the concensus of the group (and from the replies so far, you can see that we tend to beat down those who try to mess things up for everyone else).

If the ferocious one doesn't like reading threads he knows the way to the door.  Or he can try to make a case for his views and maybe even turn people around to his way of thinking.

Or not.  But what's the point of who's the bigger asshole?  I'll make it easy.  You're all assholes.

There.

[ferocious j]

Carefully read these two sentences again:

I simply fail to see the usefulness in constantly bitching about scheduling or pointing out things that you think sucked.  Congratulations: You're an asshole.

In retrospect, I can see how it would be misinterpreted, but my intent was not to address any specific person; rather, the generic "you" refers to that class of person whose only apparent purpose on boards like these is to (a) bitch about scheduling ("Where's my strip?  There's no strip for today!  OMG WTF blrhrrk;glrasdf") and (b) point out things that they think sucked.

Anyone can have an opinion.  This is OK.  Whether one chooses to express this opinion, and also how that opinion is expressed, is what places them in Asshole Country or not.

[jough]

Okay, FJ, fair enough.

But really, if there was ever a place to bitch about Onstad's lack of prompt schedule adhesion, it's this board.

It's not like someone else is making up the schedule.  And without a new strip to talk about the achewood fora get lame quickly.

[ferocious j]

Two quick points and I swear I'll stop talkin'.

But really, if there was ever a place to bitch about Onstad's lack of prompt schedule adhesion, it's this board.

Just because you can does not necessarily mean you should.*

And without a new strip to talk about the achewood fora get lame quickly.

I do appreciate the inclusion of fora to talk about non-achewood stuff, though ... I'm thinking that should be where peoples' energy should be directed on those non-strip days.

* Or as Chris Rock put it, "Just 'cause you can do it don't mean it's a good fuckin' idea!"

[The Wonderous Me]

blah blah blah blah blah....  Whether one chooses to express this opinion, and also how that opinion is expressed, is what places them in Asshole Country or not.

Yeah, well we all know who the King of Asshole Country is!! :ducks to avoid the cow being flung over the wall of the Asshole Castle:

[jough]

SHIT FLINGING IS WHERE I DRAW THE LINE.

[Asherdan]

Anyone can have an opinion.  This is OK.  Whether one chooses to express this opinion, and also how that opinion is expressed, is what places them in Asshole Country or not.

I think FJ stated that well.  The main thing I look for is if a post adds something to the thread; if there is some constructive thought being pushed forward. I don't necessarily have to agree with it.  Personally, I've started to self edit based on that and NOT posting.  What gets wearisome is a string of of posts that amounts to:

-This stink
-This super stinks
-This is the stink to end all stinks

And now I stink, too.

[jough]

AMEN.